Method and apparatus for scooping up molten metals



Feb. 18, 1969 A, DIEZ 3,428,2

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SCQOPING UP MOLTEN METALS Filed hay 51. 19s? v Sheet 01 2 Q v z /n'ventor:

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A. DIEZ' Feb. 18, 1969 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SCOOPING UP MOLTEN METALS Filed Hay 251, 1967 Sheet "I'IIIIIIIIIIIIIII United States Patent Sch 39,067 us. Cl. 222-4 12 Claims Int. Cl. G01f 11/10; new 3/00 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method for scooping up liquids and to an apparatus for the practice of this method. A scooping vessel, after immersion into the molten metal bath is set in rotation, so that, by the utilization of centrifugal force, the metal can be kept in the scooping vessel for as long as desired.

Background of the invention The application relates to a method for scooping up molten metals and to a scooping apparatus for the measured scooping of molten metals from molten metal containers. Many methods and apparatus are used for such purposes, but they suffer from disadvantages. One of them is that it is usually impossible to transport the molten metal free of oxide from the container to the mold. Where the scooping vessel has bottom outlet, e.g. another disadvantage consists in the use of plugs and the like for stoppering the outlet hole in the bottom. The aim of the invention is to find a method and an apparatus for scooping up molten metals, which will avoid the above-named disadvantages and which furthermore will have a bottom opening in the scooping vessel which has no plug or closure.

Summary of the invention According to the invention, it is proposed that molten metals be scooped up in measured amounts from molten metal containers by dipping into the surface of the metal a scooping vessel having a bottom opening through which the metal can flow according to the depth of immersion,

and then setting the scooping vessel into rotation about its vertical axis, thereby forcing the molten metal that has entered the vessel to run under centrifugal force to the inside wall of the vessel to a level above the bottom margin of the opening, so that the molten metal in the scooping vessel can be carried to any other point where it is emptied by reducing the speed of rotation. Oxidation can be prevented by use of an inert gas.

The invention offers the advantage that, although it has a bottom inlet and outlet opening, it is not necessary to close this opening with plugs or valves, and that furthermore the danger of the oxidation of the molten metals being handled can be completely prevented, especially if the metal is transported under shielding gas.

General description of the invention For the practice of the method of the invention a scooping vessel is proposed which has at its bottom end a centrally disposed opening whose diameter is smaller than the outside diameter of the scooping vessel and which can be set in rotation about its vertical central axis by driving means of the prior art. If such a scooping vessel is immersed wholly or only partially into the surface of a molten metal and is set in rotation in this state, the metal within the scooping vessel according to the invention, which preferably is a cylindrical body, will be forced by centrifugal force to the inside wall. In this manner it is possible to hold the molten metal in the scooping vessel,

transport the latter to a desired location, and there to pour out the molten metal by reducing the speed of rotation.

It is advantageous if the scooping vessel according to the invention is made transportable in addition to the features already mentioned, since otherwise the container of molten metal would have to be removed from beneath the scooping vessel in order to empty the latter. Furthermore, it is desirable to provide vertical partitions within the scooping vessel to act as so-called impellers. This makes it possible to get the metal in the vessel into rotation more rapidly after immersion in the hot metal. Further, for the complete avoidance of oxides, it is advantageous to feed inert gas into the scooping apparatus of the invention, to be displaced by the entering molten metal. The shielding gas is advantageously fed through the drive shaft of the scooping device, said shaft being made hollow for this purpose.

Accordingly, the invention provides a method for transferring molten metal or other liquid from a body thereof, comprising communicating the vessel having an open bottom outlet opening with the body of liquid for allowing liquid to flow into the vessel, rotating the vessel to hold the liquid therein, separating the rotating vessel from the liquid, and reducing the speed of rotation to allow the metal to fiow out of the vessel.

Brief description of the drawings The invention is explained diagrammatically in the drawings: wherein FIGURE 1 shows a side view with partial sections of the apparatus according to the invention;

FIGURES 2 to 7 show the scooping vessel of the invention in diagrammatic form.

Description of preferred embodiments The stopperless and closureless scooping vessel 1 of FIG. 1, which is comparable in operation with a casting ladle, consists of a rotatable body having at its bottom a centrally located opening 2. To fill the scooping vessel 1, it is dipped into the molten metal, whereupon it fills according to the displacement principle i.e., transfer by the tendency of the liquid to maintain a constant level. The precise amount of scooped metal can be controlled by the depth of immersion. It is advantageous to use floats for this purpose having appropriate control apparatus or other regulating systems known in the technical field. After the scooping vessel 1 is filled, it is lifted as quickly as posible to a point where the opening 2 is immersed only slightly below the hot metal surface. The scooping vessel 1 is then immediately set in rotation by an appropriate driving unit 3, the molten metal in it also being set in rotation with it and being forced by centrifugal force beyond the edge of opening 2 to the inside wall. The rotation of the molten metal can be accelerated according to the invention by blades or impeller walls 4 disposed inside of the scooping vessel 1. During the rotation the scooping vessel 1 can be lifted completely out of the bath and can be transported anywhere, since the centrifugal force prevents the hot metal from reaching the bottom opening 2 and escape therefrom. To let the molten metal out, the rotation has to be slowed or stopped.

To prevent the formation of oxides on the surface of the molten metal in scooping vessel 1, inert gas, such as argon, can 'be fed according to the invention through a hollow drive shaft 5. The filling of the scooping vessel 1 of the invention can also be produced by producing a vacuum in the chamber to be filled. In this case the opening 2 needs to be immersed only slightly below the surface of the bath. An important advantage of this measureconsists in the fact that the ovide skin of the surface of the bath is pierced only in the projection of the opening 2.

The scooping vessel 1 according to the invention is preferably open at its upper end. It is driven through a hollow shaft by appropriate coupling elements 6 and 7. This system permits easy removal of vessel 1 for cleaning and preparatory work. Various examples of design of the scooping vessel 1 are shown in FIGURES 2 to 7. FIGURES 2 and 3 show a scooping vessel 1 having four individual chambers which are formed by impeller partitions 4. On the other hand, FIGURE 4 shows a scoop 1 having only one partition 4. FIGURES 5 to 7 show scooping vessels having no partitions. Partitions are not essential in this case, since the basic shape of the scooping vessel is not circular, i.e., the vessel has a non-circular internal cross-section, but ovally elongated, so that, when the scooping vessel is rotated the molten metal is made to co-rotate directly by the oval shape.

In FIG. 1: 9 is a refractory lined container for molten metal; 10 is an inlet for inert gas, which can be connected to a suction source to apply vacuum to the container for filling by use of vacuum; 11 is a pneumatic or hydraulic lift for raising and lowering the vessel 1; 12 is a connecting arm pivotally mounted at on the lift so that the vessel can be moved in a horizontally extending direction.

What is claimed is:

1. Method for transferring liquid from a body thereof which comprises:

(a) communicating a vessel having an open bottom outlet opening with said body of liquid for transfer of liquid from the body thereof to within the vessel,

(b) allowing liquid to fiow from said body into the vessel,

(c) rotating the vessel to hold liquid therein by centrifugal force,

(d) during said rotation of the vessel, separating the vessel from the body of liquid,

(e) reducing the speed of rotation of the separated vessel to reduce the centrifugal force and allow the metal in the vessel to flow out of the bottom outlet opening.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein in (a) said communication with the vessel is via the open bottom outlet opening.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein said liquid is molten metal.

4. Method according to claim 3, and maintaining an atmosphere of inert gas in the vessel.

5. Method according to claim 3, wherein the vessel is immersed in the liquid to effect transfer to the vessel by the tendency of the liquid to maintain a constant level.

6. Apparatus for transferring liquid from a body thereof which comprises:

(a) a vessel having an open bottom outlet opening for flow of liquid into and from the vessel,

(b) means for rotating said vessel for application of centrifugal force to liquid in the vessel to hold the liquid in the vessel by centrifugal force,

(c) means for raising and lowering the vessel for contacting it with the body of liquid for filling the vessel and separating it from the body of liquid for transfer of the liquid.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, including means for moving the vessel in a horizontally extending direction.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6, including impeller blades in the vessel.

9. Apparatus according to claim 6, the vessel having a non-circular internal cross-section.

10. Apparatus according to claim 6, and means for supplying an inert gas to said vessel for maintaining an inert atmosphere therein.

11. In combination, apparatus according to claim 6, and a refractory lined container for molten metal, said raising and lowering means permitting moving the vessel into and out of the container.

12. In comibnation, apparatus according to claim 6, and a container for holding said body of liquid.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,242,560 10/1917 Kingsbury 233-46 X 1,437,855 12/ 1922 Myers 222363 3,231,181 1/1966 SkeggS 233-25 X SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 222344 

